Wairoa 13th. Novr. 1868. Dear McLean, I am in receipt of your note of Saturday some of the women and children will leave, I shall do all I can to restore confidence the Ngatiporous are unsettled and our Europeans are a set of Drunkards - this is pay day but all right - I shall be able to hold my own and shall if I can get in old Ihaka, I am not surprised at the reverses we sustain when I see the Material our Forces are made of I have closed the Public Houses and yet have half the men Drunk, this must be remedied before we can do anything with the Maoris. I am sorry for poor Biggs he deserved a better fate, this is fearful oh those Prisoners what has their escape done for us. I have had to issue to the Ngatiporous nearly double Rations, the Chiefs come very often to meals and I am obliged to ask them, I suppose they will be paid for, I have stopped some of the men from leaving, and have no fear for the place but can get no information of the Enemy Scouting not in favour, I have told Carroll that for any information which proves to be true Govt. will pay - in haste, Yours very truly, C. Lambert..